Last time I was writing about hyaluronic-acid as a skin anti-aging product. I've since learned that the purest form of this stuff comes from Rooster Combs....Who knew?! ‘Course there are pampered sweeties with bucks to burn who use lotions made from lamb placentas...so go figure...this desire to NOT wrinkle up like the Granny character from The Beverly Hillbillies TV show has got scientists looking at an amazing array of substances to postpone the look of aging.

Now I've learned about how Vitamin C, that wonder substance for keeping away colds, reducing inflammation and strengthening our immune systems, has a major role in collagen production and maintenance! Collagen, that all youthful under-our-skins-when we're-young natural ingredient that we are ever-searching for once we're not-so-young! Ah, Collagen...let me count the ways...but, I'm rambling off my point...

Let's all go get a glass of fresh OJ as we read the next part!

First, I've got to go back a bit and remind you readers about the disease called Scurvy... a relic of the past these days, with fruit and supplements available so plentiful, but this malady was quite the problem among sailors and others who went for extended periods without Vitamin C. The book HOW TO LIVE LONGER AND FEEL BETTER (1986) Pages 89-91, reminds us that

"A person who is dying of scurvy stops making this substance [collagen], and his body falls apart -- his joints fail, because he can no longer keep the cartilage and tendons strong, his blood vessels break open, his gums ulcerate and his teeth fall out, his immune system deteriorates, and he dies."

Yikes...pretty gruesome.

But the point is that Vitamin C is crucial to collagen production as well as all its other beneficial qualities!

Are you gulping down that OJ yet?

This book mentioned above, it's the real deal...or at least written by a scientist, Dr. Linus Pauling, who is truly the real deal. Pauling was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1954 for chemistry; his life's work was studying the structure and bonds of the molecules in our bodies. So, this guy knows his stuff! (My hubby says I shouldn't even use up space here reminding readers who this great scientist was, he's just that famous. But, hey, I'm DesertBlondie not DesertScientist, so maybe others, like myself need the refresher.)

Since I've just recently stumbled across that age where age-appearance is truly an issue with me, my interest in collagen and hyalronic acid and all "them there" serious skin care products is a new interest in my life. So bear with me if this collagen information is already familiar.

But I've learned that collagen is not just a facial/wrinkle thing...i.e. my vanity... but exists throughout the body (see scurvy desription above and the quote now coming).

"There is even more collagen in the skin, bones, teeth, blood vessels, eye, heart, and, in fact, essentially all parts of the body. Collagen as strong white fibers, stronger than steel wire of the same weight, and as yellow elastic networks (called elastin), usually together with macropolysaccharides, constitutes the connective tissue that holds our bodies together."

And while I won't be writing about macropolysaccharides any time soon (!) I am feeling less wholly vain and more totally body-health focused.

But here's the real kicker I guess, or a few of them actually.

First, we all remember that Vitamin C doesn't "stay" in the body, but needs a constantly fresh supply.

Second, according to Dr. Pauling, vitamin C is not only needed to allow our bodies to produce and maintain collagen, the C is destroyed by the same process....I never knew that before!! So once it does one job, stop a cold, build immune strength, it can't do anything more...each job needs more C.

Third, the amount of Vitamin C listed on all the nutrient ingredients for 100% of our daily requirements (about one cup of orange juice) is MERELY the amount needed to not die of scurvy....not nearly the amounts needed to really keep our systems truly fresh, energized, efficient, vital. Come on FDA, get with it already! Update your data!

Fourth, Vitamin C in creams and liquids applied to the skin (topicals) are predominantly a scam since Vitamin C is an "unstable" product, so if our bodies are going to get it, we need to be swallowing it!

Fifth, Vitamin C not just in citrus fruits. Green Peppers, strawberries, tomatoes and broccoli are also good sources.

To sum it all up...Eat those Vitamin C fruits!! ! They do a body good! Including our sagging faces and wrinkles!

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